While We Were Yet Sinners

Salvation is a gift. It can't be worked for, it can't be bought - but it was paid for, in advance, of the acceptance, or rejection, of all of those to whom it is being offered:

"5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:6-8 KJV)

"While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us"

Only Christ has been perfectly free of sin, but those who accept Christ's offer of the gift of salvation must strive to live a life of overcoming sin, thereby making themselves repentant sinners. Unrepentant sinners are those who will face the LORD's wrath, and ultimately, the lake of fire.

"5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood [see the Fact Finder question below], we shall be saved from wrath through him. 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement [see Christ's Mercy Seat].

5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 5:13 For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification [see When Will You Be Judged?]. 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation [see Damnation]; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness [see Growing In The Grace And Knowledge; also Grace Into Licentiousness] unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:12-21 KJV)

Fact Finder: Why did the perfectly innocent Christ have to die in the way that He did?
See Why Blood?